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A Challenge to ALL
I'm not someone who's usually comfortable telling people what to do, or challenging them to do things, but a number of recent posts have made me feel it's appropriate to put this one out there:
If you are already signed up to be an organ donor, I applaud you -- join me and tell people how easy it is to sign up. If you are not, I encourage you to consider doing so. It takes almost no effort on your part (no pun intended), and it can save a life... or two... or three... or more. In many states you can simply indicate you'd like to be one when you renew your driver's license. There is also a 'Universal Donor Card' alternative that can be carried in your wallet if you do not drive, or do not want to do it 'via government.'
For those who'd like general information about being a universal donor and links to what organ donorship is all about, a beautiful starting point:
http://www.loveandlightwings.com/awareness/organdonorship.html
Now, that's some real support for hepatitis sufferers :). ~eureka
If you are already signed up to be an organ donor, I applaud you -- join me and tell people how easy it is to sign up. If you are not, I encourage you to consider doing so. It takes almost no effort on your part (no pun intended), and it can save a life... or two... or three... or more. In many states you can simply indicate you'd like to be one when you renew your driver's license. There is also a 'Universal Donor Card' alternative that can be carried in your wallet if you do not drive, or do not want to do it 'via government.'
For those who'd like general information about being a universal donor and links to what organ donorship is all about, a beautiful starting point:
http://www.loveandlightwings.com/awareness/organdonorship.html
Now, that's some real support for hepatitis sufferers :). ~eureka
I've been an organ donor since my first drivers license. I don't know what they could transplant back then, but no matter.
I think what were seeing here is that we can all be organ donors, but the company that facilitates the donation doesn't have to use our innards if they don't want to. You can donate your lava lamp to Goodwill, but you can't guarantee it will end up on an oak desk.
I wonder whether we can specify who will get control of our junk when the time comes? Maybe there are some harvesters, maybe teaching hospitals, that would use our parts without the dramatic increase in our carbon footprints?
A cardboard heart? Sheesh. Do ya think I could ask em to put mine in a red brassiere instead? I figure a pair of D's outta do it.
I think what were seeing here is that we can all be organ donors, but the company that facilitates the donation doesn't have to use our innards if they don't want to. You can donate your lava lamp to Goodwill, but you can't guarantee it will end up on an oak desk.
I wonder whether we can specify who will get control of our junk when the time comes? Maybe there are some harvesters, maybe teaching hospitals, that would use our parts without the dramatic increase in our carbon footprints?
A cardboard heart? Sheesh. Do ya think I could ask em to put mine in a red brassiere instead? I figure a pair of D's outta do it.
Was just trying to guess what feeling you were trying to convey (…note the ?s) – didn’t quite understand that it was a stammer… and you shouldn’t hesitate to wade in, the water’s quite warm, really. :)
Hard to convey manner in print, but I don’t intend to be judgmental -- just trying to compare notes, being curious about what people feel on this topic and why they feel the way they do about their convictions, especially if we have different perspectives. I happen to feel a very particular way about the issue, but I understand people have their individual reservations (signed up or not) about fallacies in the system. You deal with this issue on an up-close-and-personal basis everyday, and I understand and respect your vehemence from a professional and personal level. However, I don’t think it’s about feeling good about being an organ donor or feeling bad if you aren’t considered one – it’s about working through ALL the obstacles that stand in the way of a better system for both donors and recipients.
I don’t think the issue is screening, or what they screen for, rather the guidelines made afterward that are problematic…and judgmental. Hopefully the harvesters you see around are the exception rather than the rule – it certainly is disheartening that bad corporate decisions like theirs cost lives – but I rely on the presumption that decisions like those aren’t set in stone. (Yeah, I’m the eternal optimist.) What stands as policy for today can change tomorrow, and I’m still hopeful that in the near future, hcv will be so easily curable (hopefully along with hbv and hiv, and one day cancer) that everyone will be considered eligible regardless.
Elaine: It may not be in our lifetime, but my hope is that one day people like Nick and my husband can both get livers readily...
Hard to convey manner in print, but I don’t intend to be judgmental -- just trying to compare notes, being curious about what people feel on this topic and why they feel the way they do about their convictions, especially if we have different perspectives. I happen to feel a very particular way about the issue, but I understand people have their individual reservations (signed up or not) about fallacies in the system. You deal with this issue on an up-close-and-personal basis everyday, and I understand and respect your vehemence from a professional and personal level. However, I don’t think it’s about feeling good about being an organ donor or feeling bad if you aren’t considered one – it’s about working through ALL the obstacles that stand in the way of a better system for both donors and recipients.
I don’t think the issue is screening, or what they screen for, rather the guidelines made afterward that are problematic…and judgmental. Hopefully the harvesters you see around are the exception rather than the rule – it certainly is disheartening that bad corporate decisions like theirs cost lives – but I rely on the presumption that decisions like those aren’t set in stone. (Yeah, I’m the eternal optimist.) What stands as policy for today can change tomorrow, and I’m still hopeful that in the near future, hcv will be so easily curable (hopefully along with hbv and hiv, and one day cancer) that everyone will be considered eligible regardless.
Elaine: It may not be in our lifetime, but my hope is that one day people like Nick and my husband can both get livers readily...
In 2007, multiple recipients contracted HIV and HCV from an infected donor. Now they screen all donors for exposure.
I hope you had people there for you when you lost Nick. There really is no way to be prepared for that kind of loss and I'm so sorry.
I hope you had people there for you when you lost Nick. There really is no way to be prepared for that kind of loss and I'm so sorry.
Thank you for your explanation.
Every thing that I've read says that an HCV positive person can still
donate organs. I can't believe they told you they incinerate HCV organs.
I've also read that an HIV patient nor cancer patients can donate organs.
I wish you the best in giving of your hospice care...it's where no one wants to be.
Your work is admirable. We are not prepared for death or that of a loved one.
Every thing that I've read says that an HCV positive person can still
donate organs. I can't believe they told you they incinerate HCV organs.
I've also read that an HIV patient nor cancer patients can donate organs.
I wish you the best in giving of your hospice care...it's where no one wants to be.
Your work is admirable. We are not prepared for death or that of a loved one.
sunqueen: "Errrr. Ummmmmm. Uhhhhh."
Huh? (Conflicted? Apathetic? Offended?)
Judgemental?
No. I stammer a bit when I wade into posts like these.
Feel free to form whatever opinions you may have. My driver's license still says "organ donor." I work in hospice. I'm the person who has to prepare people to die and help them make their final arrangements. Because of my role, I am gold to harvesters. Donation companies want people like me to sign up people who are dying. Organ donation has become a corporate business. Do I care? No. Healthcare has become a corporate business. So what? I work for a corporation.
They're not evil.
They just have a lot of rules.
That they stick to.
Because they're corporations.
My *anger* comes from knowing that I can't be a donor. They were very specfic and clear when they said they incinerate the remains of anyone who tests positive for HIV, HBV and HCV. They will not take the remains of people who are incarcerated. Why? Because they believe there is a high chance they will have been exposed to HIV, HBV and HCV. Did I make this rule up? No! LOL.
The first time I had to sit through a whole hour of "how to sign 'em up" was right after I finished a particularly rough treatment. My hand shot straight in the air when they said they incinerate the remains of people with hepatitis. "What if the donor treated and cleared the virus?" Nope. If they test positive for exposure, they are contaminated. They will not place their workers, researchers or the public at risk. But they will send the cremains back to the family in a lovely little heart-shaped cardboard box.
So, feel good about yourselves. Go be organ donors.
Huh? (Conflicted? Apathetic? Offended?)
Judgemental?
No. I stammer a bit when I wade into posts like these.
Feel free to form whatever opinions you may have. My driver's license still says "organ donor." I work in hospice. I'm the person who has to prepare people to die and help them make their final arrangements. Because of my role, I am gold to harvesters. Donation companies want people like me to sign up people who are dying. Organ donation has become a corporate business. Do I care? No. Healthcare has become a corporate business. So what? I work for a corporation.
They're not evil.
They just have a lot of rules.
That they stick to.
Because they're corporations.
My *anger* comes from knowing that I can't be a donor. They were very specfic and clear when they said they incinerate the remains of anyone who tests positive for HIV, HBV and HCV. They will not take the remains of people who are incarcerated. Why? Because they believe there is a high chance they will have been exposed to HIV, HBV and HCV. Did I make this rule up? No! LOL.
The first time I had to sit through a whole hour of "how to sign 'em up" was right after I finished a particularly rough treatment. My hand shot straight in the air when they said they incinerate the remains of people with hepatitis. "What if the donor treated and cleared the virus?" Nope. If they test positive for exposure, they are contaminated. They will not place their workers, researchers or the public at risk. But they will send the cremains back to the family in a lovely little heart-shaped cardboard box.
So, feel good about yourselves. Go be organ donors.
Being new to this I was sad that I could no longer donate blood or organs. I didn't realize organs were still okay !! I guess if you are days away from death, an organ from a hepper is better than the alternative. Forgive me for my naivete but does the virus live in our organs once we are dead? Does it matter if we are SVR?
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